Bears' season is over - mercifully

Good job Lovie! way to coach up Manning to get him ready to play safety all week, and after he blew the coverage for the td, right before the fumbled kick. Now lovie has fouled up two nfl leading kick returners right before bear fans eyes.

Good thing we had Mulligan bleating about giving lovie his money and a long contract extension. What do we have four more years of watching lovie learn on the job and the bears go nowhere? Lovie must be paying mulligan to be his agent, unbelievable coaching on this team.

What a waste of some talented football players, and we have to watch this garbage for years and years. Can't even win a division against the vikings and packers and lions? Pathetic.

Lovie Smith is overrated. He needs to go.

His vaunted defense gives up 31 points in a must-win game. What a joke! The Bears will not make the playoffs as long as he is the head coach.

Ron Turner might be the single worst coordinator in the NFL. It doesn't help when receivers drop passes like it's a new fashion statement, but the offensive play-calling has been atrocious. They run in obvious running situations and get stopped; they pass in obvious passing situations and get stopped. You can watch film of 2 Bears games and easily come up with a game plan to stop their ineffective offense.

Don't expect much from the Bears until they get a quarterback who can throw a 15-yard pass and an offensive coordinator without the last name of Turner.

STEVIE WONDER COULD SEE THIS TEAM NEEDS AN OVERHAUL, STARTING FROM THE TOP. THE PLAYERS DESERVED BETTER THAN THE MESS WE CALLED "COACHING" THIS YEAR.

TO HEAR LOVIE LAST WEEK SAY THAT THE TEAM IS DESIGNED AROUND WINNING WITH THE SPECIAL TEAMS WAS A NIGHTMARE. YOU DON'T WIN IN THE NFL WITH A FOCUS ON SPECIAL TEAMS. THAT'S FOR LOSERS WHO CAN'T SCORE TDS. IF I SEE ONE MORE SQUIBB KICK WITH LESS THAN 2 MINUTES TO GO I WILL SCREAM. THEY DID IT AGAIN LAST WEEK AFTER TAKING THE LEAD. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON. PLAYERS WHO TRY THEIR HARDEST WITH COACHES WHO ARE AWFUL.

Tait, Kruetz & Alex Brown are the Bear's above average linemen. The rest are mediocre at best and Tom Harris is grossly over paid.

Super bowl teams have good O & D lines....Thev trainees Angelo the Dope and Lovie the Mope are destroying the Bears with poor drafts and the inability to evaluate players.

The Babich & Lovie are inept and Turner will improve when the O Line talent improves.

Just not good enough in all facets.

The coaching staff was lacking all season and this was just a continuation from last year.
Turner is not the answer and he continues to call boneheaded plays while going away from the few things that do work.
They rarely have Hester go deep, they run Forte up the middle far too often, they seem to have no idea on how to run a real screen and the play book seems to be in reverse. By that I mean that he calls the opposite of he should run and this kills drive after drive because they are always in 3rd and long.
The stupid hand off to their FB up the middle has been a killer this season.

Babich has been a total disaster and the defense has gone backwards under his guidance.
They can’t stop the pass, they give up a huge cushion which results in 10 yard chunks all the way down the field and their tackling was the worst in the NFL. We saw the same thing last year.
Urlacher and Briggs are not used to their strength and without Brown they can’t stop the run when they need it most.
Babich had no business getting this position other than he is a friend of Lovie’s.

Lovie is soft and the team has adopted this personality. The can’t seem to play more then one good quarter a game, their fundamentals are terrible on both side of the ball and they are flat in their biggest games. There is never a sense of urgency and that may work if you are the best team in the NFL but they are far from that.
He is in charge, he brought in Babich and Turner and he in the bottom line.
He needs to go but that will probably never happen. Too much money committed to him and the Bears screwed that up.

Speaking of too much money invested… the big money players on defense did not show up at all this year with the exception of Lance Briggs.
Harris looks really old and they actually look better with him on the bench.
Tillman and Vasher were worthless and can’t seem to stay healthy.
Dvoracek can go right now. He is injury prone and was out played by Harrison, Adams and Idonije. Cut your loses with this guy.
Brown is done due to obvious reasons.
They do not have a pure pass rusher who can go through anyone and they are a dome like finesse team up front. Not good when you play on grass and in the elements.

The offensive line is not going to get younger before next September and the one guy that they did draft was damaged goods. That is not good.
Except for Hester they can scrap every WR on the team. There is nothing worth holding on to here.
The TE position is fine and was their saving grace for the passing game.
Orton looked very Rex like in the 2nd half of the season while the real Rex is on his way out the door. That is not encouraging.
Do they go after a QB like Cassel or see what Hanie has to offer or do they fall back on the same old “----- is our quarterback” routine?
Forte is fine but they are going to get him killed if he keeps up this pace. He is like their Derrick Rose and he needs some help.

I want to see the coaching staff and Angelo gone. A whole new group of WRs. A real competition for the QB job and Hester taken off the special teams or do nothing else but that.

For a team with a must win situation, the Bears have nobody to blame but themselves. The coaching staff did not have this team ready to go. The cover 2 defense is a sham, it has to go. Sign a good free agent wide receiver and draft for defensive line and backs. One mor eyear of this mess with Lovie and he has got to go. Both def. and off. coordinators need to go now and change the philosophy back to attacking Bears Football! This team had the talent to go deep into the playoffs, instead will be sitting at home.

Yes Roman, the Bears were better than expected. That being said, losses in games where they had the lead cost them a playoff spot. Poor play calling at crucial times of the game both on offense and defense lost at least 3 games. Jerry Angelo needs to take a LARGE part of the blame here, no #1 reciever, a #1 draft pick who cannot play, overpaying players who were currently under contract. Angelo's track record speaks for itself, how many of his #1's are still on the roster ? Remember, Rex was the SECOND pick in that draft ! Where is Micheal Haynes today ? All the Bears problems start at the top and permeate throughout the organization. Bill Parcells showed it does not take years to develope a winning program , just good talent evaluation.That means players AND coaches.

Sadly, I am not looking forward to next year because we will have Lovie failing at coaching, Ron T running high school caliber offensive schemes and the torrential Babich driving our "once BEST DEFENSE" into the ground, and also thanks to Lovie for bringing Babich over Rivera -- way to go -- good call!!

Oh...let's not forget Jerry Angelo too -- him and lovie do not have a clue whom to draft and whom to covet and give nice contracts to in making the BEARS a successful team.

With the talent on this team (offensively and defensively) there is no question the Bears should have won the Division. They just do not have anyone that can lead them in the direction that they need to go. Too many close games with bad play calling that lost some for us.

There is an awful lot to accomplish this off season in making this team successful, again. Start with the coaching.

Another gloomy season for Bear Fans!

Bears Fans! Did you really think this team was going any where? They were lucky @ best!!! Please keep Lovie, Turner and the like. It's the best thing you could do for us Packer fans. Tough luck and thanks for flopping and giving us some laughs! Luv, Packerzrule!

The chicago bears have the worst coaching staff in football and that includes pee wee. Giving that game in and game out,it seems all their game plans are geared for the very first quarter and anything beyound that has to be luck. Lovie Smith stands on the sidelines like a dear caught in the head light while Ron Turner keeps calling underneath passes that handcuffs the offense.The entire NFL exhibits 21'st centry offense and all we get in chicago is the so called Bears football. Anyone knows what that is?.Mosheen Mohamed was right. Wide receivers come and die in chicago and the media looks with the pretence that things are ok.Football is played with character and coached by people with fire in their belly and not by preachers in the pulpit.I don't know what that Angello fellow is about but i think he has failed.Matt Forte can't carry da bears.Devon Hester can't do it by himself eighter. It takes a well coached team and the Bears are not.Get rid of that cover 2 obviousely the team lacks the personel to play that scheme.Lovie is supposed to be a defensive guru,and he has the last say in whatever play his co-ordinaters call. I wonder if he knows what's going on.

Lets get some more play makers by trading Tommie Harris to Arizona for Anqian Boldin, and drafting a receiver in the first round. Another move is get Mcnabb when Philly lets him go. The Bears did not win the big games- Minnesota, Greenbay, and Texans. Lets have a great offseason Angelo, in freeagency and the draft!!!

I'm disappointed, but I say we should keep Orton. He was not able to throw properly due to his foot injury, and he's had to face defenses that haven't had to worry about our wide receivers. Get us two real playmakers at wide receiver and a new defensive coordinator who can match scheme or personnel--and we could be 10-6 or 11-5 next year. We're not that far away.

Roman,

This coaching staff is a joke. 9-7 might be o.k. but this team should of been 11-4 heading into this game and not worrying. Inflated as that 11-4...eh um...11-5 after today may have been this team should be in the playoffs and losing again to Carolina or the Giants. The fact this team didn't make the playoffs is the reason this coaching staff (all of it, if not at least Ron and Bob) should go. The head coach gets a pass because he has to believe his coordinators know what they are doing. In this case they do not. I'm o.k with Lovie, but Turner and Babich have to go. The bears were fine with Rivera, so that tells me Lovie gives control to his coordinators.
Brian Griese throwing for 400 yards, a fullback dive too many times on 4th and 1, 11 seconds in Atlanta, 4 cracks at the 1 in Minnesota. Blowing a 10-0 lead in Houston in a "must win game" which if won the bears would be in the playoffs. All these reasons mean this coaching staff should go. Up 10 the play calling got "Conservative AGAIN" in stead of burying the Texans when they had the chance. These are MAJOR flaws not MINOR. Minor flaws equal an occasional bad play (aka tillman against the bucs another reason the bears are not in the playoffs). Coaching determines whether or not you give up 31 pts in a "must win" game. This coaching staff blows and they are the reason this team is not in the playoffs. You can blame Harris, Urlacher, and the rest of the defense along with Orton and the WR's if you want. They are following a "SCHEME" or "GAMEPLAN" that is designed by someone else (Babich/Smith, Turner/Smith). Players play, coaches should know how to beat their opponents and get "players" in the right spots because very few players can do that on their own. This season is on the coaching staff and no one else....PERIOD.

Bear Fans,

Am I the only one who saw how horrible, slow, lost, and out of place Urlacher looked in this game. On more then one occaision, he was not where he was suppose to be. Once I saw him get taken completly out of the play by a full back. It looks as if he's scared to hit and he really is too slow now to cover the middle of the field. It can't all because Brown wasn't there. Maybe the neck isn't all there.

Brown, great player, but its time to move on.

Our corners couldn't cover a pop warner receiver with a blanket.

Orton is not the answer. Bad playing calling is made much worse by a lack of execution. We can't throw down the field with any consistancy and the opponents know it putting 8 guys in the box to stop our only threat, Forte. It doesn't help that Orton has never learned the concept of looking defenders off. When are quaterbacks suppose to learn this skill set?

Angelo can not be allowed to draft anymore players. If things remains unchanged, the Bears will be 6 and 10

A lot of people want to write Brian Urlacher off and put him out to pasture because of a lack of 'Pro Bowl-caliber' play the past two seasons. But, all the 'naysayers' have to remember is Urlacher is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was a safety and punt returner in college with only NFL linebacking experience, underwent neck and back surgery in the off-season, and is constantly put out of position by Bob Babich's 'mauling at the line' defense.

In the past, there was some thought to switching Lance Briggs and Urlacher. Though, I believe the Bears should:

- move Urlacher to strong-side linebacker, in place of Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nick Roach, to take advantage of his speed and mobility to cover more athletic tight ends and give him more opportunities to blitz off the edge.

- keep Briggs at weak-side linebacker

- draft one of the top middle linebackers (Ohio State's James Laurinaitis, Pittsburgh's Scott McKillop, USCs Brian Cushing, Florida State's Derek Nicholson, or Florida's Brandon Spikes) in the 2009 NFL Draft.

- move Roach and Jamar Williams to the middle linebacker spot to compete with the drafted player.

If there isn't some changes made to the coaching staff prior to next season I won't be a bears supporter in any fashion. They are incapable of making adjustments during the game or at half time. I've stuck with them inspite of having moved out of the Chicago area 6 years ago and although I continue to endure the futility of the Cubs and the Bulls (although the Bulls maybe finally on an upturn now with Rose) I'm done with the Bears and their inept administration.

Go Panthers!

DA BOTTOM LINE IS THIS TEAM SHOULD HAVE WON A LOT MORE GAMES THAN IT DID WHERE THE HELL WAS DA DEEEE TODAY

With this team's shortcomings and devastating loss today, its easy to see why most posters are either in denial about the team's shortcomings or want to tear the franchise down and start over. Both are wrong.

Starting over would be impractical. The majority of the defense is signed long term to big contracts. They are talented but older players. The window for this team is closing fast and we don't have 2 years to learn entirely new schemes. That said, there are some serious deficiencies on both sides of the ball that need to be addressed immediately.

The good is that this team could be serious contenders next year if the following things happen:

-Change in philosophy: Lovie needs to better evaluate his team's talent level and adjust the scheme to fit accordingly. Teams have adjusted to the Cover2 and I get sick of watching qb's pick it apart in the 4th quarter.

-Replace Bob Babich: No one should get paid for being Lovie's yes-man/best friend. A new coordinator that fits with Lovie's thinking while getting more aggressive with playcalling would be best.

-Cut Ogunleye and Tait: both will be going into their contract years, and are grossly overpaid considering the seasons they have had. Cutting them will give us an extra 7 million in cap space after any cap hits we take for releasing them.

-Sign a top playmaker on each side of the football: By most estimates, we will have over 35 million in cap room this offseason, even when taking into account the rookie cap (after releasing the players metioned above). This leaves us in prime position to sign a top wideout or run-blocking replacement for Tait on offense. I'd love to target Devery Henderson and Stacy Andrews. On defense, nothing was more nerve-wracking this season then watching practically every opposing qb have lots of time to shred our defense. If we let go of Ogunleye, a player like Terrell Suggs could be the answer.

-Finally, we need a solid draft that looks to address the weaknesses at safety and D line, and gives us a complement to Forte at RB.

Follow this plan and we will be contenders next year.

Bears do need to make several changes -- better receivers, a few new o-linemen, etc., etc. They didn't do much last off-season and, because this is the Bears, probably won't do much this year.

Forte, for all the kudos he has received this year, was a non-factor this game and that was disappointing. I'm wondering if he is going to turn into a back who can't play in pain. He did not look good against the Packers until the 4th Q and sat out much of this game. Maybe the toe is more painful than we have been told, but if he gets a rep as playing soft when he's injured, his future just got a lot less bright.

Turner's play calling, again, left a lot to be desired. After we went up 10-0, it seemed like we started to play not to lose again. I am sick of him calling plays.

I'm satisfied with Orton. If he continues to make progress, he will be a good QB for a few years. Not necessarily great, but good. He does need some receivers though.

I'm hoping that Forte's last two games aren't foreshadowing things to come. If I were the Bears, I would get another running back, just in case.

The big thing for the Bears is they have to start letting the players play and the pets sit. Too many pets have started the last two years in front of players. That hurt the team on the field and in the clubhouse.

One last thought, this team, like the Bears teams of the past few years, never found an identity.

We were supposed to get off the bus running, but couldn't get one yard gains at key times throughout the season. We let our deep threat go and never developed anyone to replace him. We have two good to very good tight ends, but underused them. We had a decent, but not dominating defense (but played with the mentality that we were a dominating defense).

That's on the coaching staff and the GM. Something should change before next season among the Bears "brain trust" but the Bears haven't proven too smart for the last several years and I'm not expecting that to change.

Bears do need to make several changes -- better receivers, a few new o-linemen, etc., etc. They didn't do much last off-season and, because this is the Bears, probably won't do much this year.

Forte, for all the kudos he has received this year, was a non-factor this game and that was disappointing. I'm wondering if he is going to turn into a back who can't play in pain. He did not look good against the Packers until the 4th Q and sat out much of this game. Maybe the toe is more painful than we have been told, but if he gets a rep as playing soft when he's injured, his future just got a lot less bright.

Turner's play calling, again, left a lot to be desired. After we went up 10-0, it seemed like we started to play not to lose again. I am sick of him calling plays.

I'm satisfied with Orton. If he continues to make progress, he will be a good QB for a few years. Not necessarily great, but good. He does need some receivers though.

I'm hoping that Forte's last two games aren't foreshadowing things to come. If I were the Bears, I would get another running back, just in case.

The big thing for the Bears is they have to start letting the players play and the pets sit. Too many pets have started the last two years in front of players. That hurt the team on the field and in the clubhouse.

One last thought, this team, like the Bears teams of the past few years, never found an identity.

We were supposed to get off the bus running, but couldn't get one yard gains at key times throughout the season. We let our deep threat go and never developed anyone to replace him. We have two good to very good tight ends, but underused them. We had a decent, but not dominating defense (but played with the mentality that we were a dominating defense).

That's on the coaching staff and the GM. Something should change before next season among the Bears "brain trust" but the Bears haven't proven too smart for the last several years and I'm not expecting that to change.

Late in the game, one of the guys in the broadcast booth said something like this before a failed hand-off to Forte:

"It's no secret what the Bears are going to do here."

That's the problem in a nutshell. Maybe if their predictability wasn't so ..... PREDICTABLE, they'd have had a chance this season.

Their horrible play calling certainly isn't a secret in this league.

FACTS: There are four wide receivers who were on the Bears' roster two years ago who are starting for other teams. There are four wide receivers who were on the Bears' roster two years ago who are going to the playoffs.

Problem #1 for the Bears is that Lovie Smith does not believe in having a modern offense. He goes with the bias that smashmouth 1960's offense is the way that it is done in the NFC Central. He appears to be blissfully unaware of Holmgren's Packers going to the Super Bowl twice in the '90s with the West Coast Offense.

Fire Turner and get somebody who can put some deception and big-play capability into the playbook and get some receivers for Orton. This may be a stretch, but, in the brief period before Grossman was injured in Lovie's first year, I liked the look of Terry Shea's offense, which never had a fair trial because of injuries.

Then, find a pass-rush. Buddy Ryan was right: You need pressure up-front; NFL receivers are too good to cover without it.

No coach....no win...no quarterback...No win.....No backup quarterback....No win....no coaching staff...No win. Congrats to the media jerks who thought the Bears had a chance. Its great to be a Colts fan!!!!

Rich in Green Bay,

I can see where you would be having such a fun time watching the Bears blow the playoffs. I'm not sure why you would be having so much fun though, while your packers were struggling to beat the now 0-16 Lions to go 6-10.

Gee, this was such a great season. 16-16 since the lucky super bowl season. Lovie has no idea what to do.. He's an idiot. Sorry, my MAN, YOU ARE OVER YOU'RE HEAD! Let's name Babich the head coach. The Bears are losers like the stupid Cubs.

I can't stand Jerry Jones, but I wish he were running the Bears right now.

How many more paychecks do you think Wade Ohillips is going to be cashing after that last performance?

The Bears, as an organization are horrible. You can get rid of Ted Philips, Jerry Angelo etc., but the Bears will just replace them with other incompetent individuals. Until one of the worst owners in sport, Virginia McCaskey and her lovely children sell this team, the Bears will stink. Just keep going to all the games, buying the jerseys, balls etc. You, the rube fan, are responsible for continuing this disaster. Ask yourself this question (and pretend you are in the business of making money), "Is there any economic benefit to paying for top management and players when you are already selling out games and generating the maximum revenue you can?"

Orton overthrew every pass. He is aweful. He is so far from the answer its scary.

Offer Matt Lienart everything we have. Go get someone, anyone.

I am glad this season is over, so I can focus on the Bulls losing games in the fourth quarter.

Roman,

This was a season of missed opportunities. Even though they had mediocre talent, they had a chance at the playoffs. They seriously need to consider changing defensive coordinator and several defensive position coaches. On offense they need to get rid of their wide receivers coach. He has done a horrible job at developing the talent he has had.It is hard to see getting rid of Ron Turner. He has been the focus of most fans anger as well as Lovie. But, he actually did a good job at taking junk and making something of it. plus, he once had a record braking (for the bears) offense with two 1000 yard receivers and Eric kramer had a record year. Someone (lovie) needs to tell him to be more imaginative with his play selection( I am sure there plays are there).

As far as talent upgrade 1.receiver 2. offensive line 3. defensive line 4. defensive backs. They also need to bring in a QB to "actually" compete for the starting job.

I never thought after seeing preseason and watching some of training camp ( yea, I am a football geek) I never thought that they would be any better than 8-8 or 5-11. But as the season unfolded, we saw that the league looked like we actually looked like we had a chance. which, brings me to the huge disappointment to how the season ended and we should never stand for mediocre when better is possible.

I said in April, "who are our wide receivers?" Now all of sudden, CHicago sportswriters write articles about how we need more WR production. The Chicago sports media is a clown-shoe-wearing crew, somwhow fearful of asking tough questions to Lovie and company. Why do they only focus on the defense?

Speaking of Lovie - he's in over his head. He had a decent amount of luck in the 2006 season, and somehow, no one seems to talk about how HE has improved since then. What does Lovie do in the off-season? How sharp is he with football? My gut feeling is he really doesn't know how to win, and therefore, relys so heavily on his players. A real coach knows how to win. Has anyone noticed that each Bear game is a nailbiter? Lovie just shows up on Sunday, puts his headphones on, and just stands there. He doesn't talk to any of his players while on the sideline. None! I've seen Sean Payton, Gary Kubiak, hell, even Rod Marinelli talk to their linemen and other groups of players throughout the course of the game. In addtion, Lovie NEVER holds anyone accountable for bad play. Where is the consequence factor for poor play? Manning was toast on that long TD today - next series, he's still in there. Adrian Peterson almost cost us last weeks game against the Packers with that stupid personal foul late in the game. No retribution, not tounge lash. He just stands there. That is not a coach -- that is someone who's afraid of confrentation, of dealing with real situations. Coaching is not a laze day at the beach. It's a struggle every Sunday. He's either just lazy or just plain dumb.

Finally, please stop the whole notion that Chicago loves it's defense. I could care less if we have this stout D. At the end of the day, the NFL is a passing game, and the team that is able to put up points fast and frequently will usually win. All defenses will eventually get scored on -- it's just the reality of the league. Like in Craps, eventually someone will roll a 7. There will be games when you will be behind. You can't win those with a this offense. Rashied Davis, Marty Booker and Brandon Llyod are a scout team for most NFL teams. They are the practice squad. I would love to ask Lovie how Justin Gage, Bobby Wade, Mark Bradley and Bernard Berrian are not too good enough to the Bears!? All of those WRs are doing well - and with mediocre QBs.

Also, look at the past 15 super bowl winners. High, high powered offenses. (Giants, Patriots, Colts, Cowboys, 49ers, Broncos) That wins games in the playoffs. Defense is overrated in the NFL. You need to score. Lovie is NOT the coach to lead that sort of team.

Virginia, do the right thing and clean house. Would be any worse?

One thing that this awful season made painfully obvious, the idea of "paying for performance" hasn't worked. Devin Hester, Urlacher, Harris - with the sole exception of Briggs, every player the Bears gave big money had a rough year. You can add Lovie Smith to that list, who hasn't been the same since he got his big paycheck.

I know a lot of Bears fans will say 9-7 isn't that bad. But take a closer look. The Bears won 3 games against the helpless Lions and Rams. They caught both the Colts and the Eagles when they were beat up. Without some really good luck, this team could be 6-10.

To add even more distress, a number of ex-Bears are having great years elsewhere, even though this staff didn't want them. It's time to clean house,

If by some miracle Bill Cowher were hired to be head coach and GM I think the list of players he would build around is short. Forte, Olsen, Chris Williams and Devin Hester on offense. Tillman, Graham,
Briggs, Alex Brown and Marcus Harrison on Defense. That's it! Nine players. How long has J. Angelo been the GM and there are only nine players worth building around? Is there a stronger indictment of his horrible perfomance than that?

They need to address a lot of things.
A new coach could take them in a new direction "if" Jerry could admit that Lovie is not the answer but Lovie will be safe so nothing changes there.

They can step into the 21st century "if" they bring in new coordinators on both sides of the ball and get rid of Babich and Turner but then again Lovie is as stubborn as he is clueless so that will probably not change either.

They need receivers in the worst and they could make major improvements in the passing game "if" they can admit that Hester is not a number one WR but Angelo is incapable of evaluating offensive talent and drafts defensive players even when they don't need them. Doubt that this will change.

Orton can't throw down field to save his life and it had nothing to do with his foot. He has had this problem from day one but he is the new appointed QB and it will be his job for at least another year no matter what. There are options to having Orton as your only choice "if" they can break the never ending cycle of hoping for a serviceable QB and nothing more. No changes there I am afraid.

Forte is not Gale Sayers and he has to have a passing game to keep the other teams honest. He can be very good "if" they stop running him into an eight man front over and over again but they like to call this stupid macho game plan “Bears football” and people buy into that. Will this change? Probably not.

The defense that they run does not fit the personal. They have talented players that can make plays "if" they are given the opportunity but they are handcuffed to a stupid system that fools no one. The league has evolved while the Bears stand still.
Will Lovie revamp the system to play to their strengths? Well he whined that “There is nothing wrong with the system” when they were getting torched so…. More of the same seems to be in store.

Jerry and Lovie will cling to this team and their stubborn stupid ways until they ride out of town and leave things in a complete mess that will take years to fix.
"If" there was a real owner here then they might actually put their foot down and say “ENOUGH!”
I said “if”.
If seems to be the magic word with this team year after year.

I really miss Thomas Jones and Ron Rivera! Cedric Bendon was a horrible 1st round pick. Right up there with Michael Haynes and don't even start talking about Rex Grossman. He never developed the poise that Orton showed this year. Then again, Orton was always studying with coaches and Grease when you’d see him on the sidelines last year. This year, whenever they show Grossman he is just staring out into space not really looking interested in the game. I’m surprised you didn’t see him waving down a beer vendor while he was wondering the sidelines. Maybe the Defense is so bad because the corners can't cover anyone, especially with every third and long resulting in a pass up the middle for big gains. Seems the Bears coaching staff in the only ones in NFL who didn’t notice this. JAM the receivers off the line! Prevent defense only prevents you from winning. Get McNabb if he is available next year and get a quality receiver in the free agent market. Draft a corner and safety that can actually cover someone. The going for the strip after the catch is not a good coverage scheme. Drafting at the defensive back positions will put pressure on the veterans like Tillman and Vasher for playing time. Remember what Tillman was like in his rookie year. Orton is a quality backup. He might even be a quality starter if his receivers would catch the ball when it hits them in the hands. How many drops did they have this year on catchable balls? I’m reluctant to see Angelo back next year with the string of bad 1st round draft picks and letting Thomas Jones go over Cedric (I like to party) Benson. We got lucky getting Forte! Seems the other teams in the NFL also have a hard time evaluating talent. Then again Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round. Remember how bad John Shoop was as an offensive coordinator. I think Bob Babich is worse. Babich is the one coach that has to go. I would like to see Mike Brown as a defensive backs coach. Maybe then he could actually stay healthy for all 16 games.

Why did the town fall asleep when Angelo was allowed to write himself a contract thru 2013 after the Bears pathetic Super Bowl perofrmance.

Then he gutted the team by giving the heart and soul of the offense away (Thomas Jones) to prop up his #4 pick pet, Cedric Benson. Thomas Jones is in the Pro Bowl and Angelo gave him away.

Yet he let a rapidly declining Urlacher hold up the franchise for $15 more million, when he should be cut in the offeseason.

How come the proud fans of Chicago don't hold Angelo and the McCaskeys accountable for their dumb defense/ special teams philosophy?

Just curious, but who (if anyone) are you rooting for now that the Bears have folded up their tent?

There's still a lot of football left to be played, and more than a few interesting teams competing for the prize.

For the first time in years, I was actually sorry to see the Patriots eliminated. They played their hearts out, and did everything humanly possible in an effort to make the play-offs by winning their last four games. Hats off to the Pats.

I don't like the Vikings, so I'll be pulling for the Eagles next week. Meanwhile, the Dolphins were a feel good story this season, and I'll be interested in seeing how they fare in the play-offs.

Glad that Dallas is gone. No more T.O. and no more Pacman!!!

Manning vs. Manning is an intriguing possibility, but I don't have much faith in the Giants. Then again ... I didn't think much of them last year, and look where ended up.

Glad that Tampa is gone. It's fitting that Oakland put the fork in them; poetic justice.

I can't stand the Ravens, and Carolina doesn't do much for me either.

Who do you like?

The Bears need a new system - which means a new coaching staff. Can anyone say Bill Cowher.... say it again... what a great move this would be for the Chicago Bears. This coach & his staff would bring the Bears to the top of the league...can you say super bowl... If the
powers that be can pay top dollar for players that can't play... pay
the money to get someone who can coach...because this team actually
won more games than they should have... look at the loss (Texans)
Bears had 50 yds rushing.... for a team that wants to control the ball...the Texans had the ball for 37 mins.. an entire quarter more.
the offense had the ball for just 30 seconds... on a 3 & out... give the defense a rest... could you..... I mean come on....and this is not the 1st time we saw this 3 & out.. it happened all season.
Defense.... defense should attack... attack... the Bears don't...
Offense.... should be able to move the ball they don't...
Coach's ... should inspire the team.. motivate.. have a game plan..
they don't....
Sorry...... enough is enough....

Fans,
There is NO WAY that the Bears should have lost the way they did, today!
Owners, abandon your satisfaction with MEDIOCRITY!
Spend the money, necessary or PLEASE sell the team to someone who is interested in striving for excellence in a year-in and year-out basis.
McMahon was the only Q.B. since Sid Luckman. Get a Q.B. with size and a competitive attitude.
Get some wideout's with SIZE.
Get some corners with SIZE and some 'fire', as well.
Give the fans what they deserve or 'give it up.'

I am tempted to root for Atlanta.
I wanted the Bears to draft Joe Flacco and sign Michael Turner before the draft but they went with the damaged O lineman instead because Jerry is just to clever for the rest of the NFL.
Look at what the Falcons have done by getting a real NFL RB and drafting a stud QB in Ryan and then actually playing him.

That should be a wake up call to the Bears. You can draft a QB who is a play maker and you don't have to wait 3 or 4 years for him to settle in.

There is one word that Bob Babich needs to learn with regard to all the 3rd & long conversions, the opponents offense has made against the defense all year. That word is STUNT !! If Bob can learn to say STUNT to the D-Line on every 3rd & long situation then there will be more sacks, batted-down passes, incompletions, etc. If he can't learn this extremely difficult word, then maybe someone (maybe Lovie, lol! right!) can sit him down and make him write STUNT 1,000 times or the number of times that is equivalent to the cost of his contract!!!! Another word Bob can learn in SLANT!!

"I would not tolerate players that think it's about them when it's about the team.

And we cannot make... we cannot make decisions that cost the team. And then come off the sideline and it's non-chalant. No. You know what? This is how I believe, OK? I'm from the old school.

I believe this: I would rather play with 10 people and get penalized all the way until we've got to do something else. Rather than play with 11 when I know that right now that person is not sold out to be a part of this team. It is more about them than it is about the team.

Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win."

Tim I am cracking up!!! Well I guess Moose is vindicated! Tell Moose we said wazuuuuuup!

Bears did better than almost 90% of what folks thought. We had a much better season than last year and should have made the playoffs. Bears showed the effects of losing key players like Thomas Jones, Bernard Berrian and Chris Harris. Our Defense took a step back from being very good, to just good. But our offense actually got better, thanks to an improvement at QB.

Our coaching took a step back this year with some bad decisions and lack of adjustments after the half. We are consistently predictable on Offense with inept play calling. And our O-line is the reason our backs can only get 1000 yard seasons. Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson has shattered the myth that its Angelo's fault. Angelo's problem is not getting a solid line to create holes for his backs. I am convinced that even Adrian Peterson (Vikes) couldn't manage much more that 1000 yards with our line.

And last but not least, converting Hester was a gamble that didn't pay off and hurt us badly. That move was responsible for 7 points a game. Hester was either scoring or putting us in position to score at least two field goals a game.

All that being said - Lovie managed 9 wins and played some very good teams toe to toe. Outside of the Green Bay game - the team showed up and made it interesting. Was an exciting year at which the bears can easily improve upon and make up at least 14 points in the off season. Bears did not deserve the post season because a playoff team wins all the CLOSE games and a few it shouldn't. Bears were hot and cold and it showed. I enjoyed the season and look forward to next year! Hey, we could be Detroit....

Tim, completely agree with your last statement about the Panthers...Going to college in New York and being raised Cubs/Bulls/Bears fan, have always preached about being loyal with your team. Now tell me this, after this '08 Bears season what reason do we as fans have to follow this horrifying atrotious group of managers and coaches running a group of players (who I'd most definately say lot of talent!). Tired of hearing of the mock draft, and the so called hope for an above average season "next year". That word hope has been ever so fading after their lone Super Bowl appearance.

Did anyone DVR the game?

If you did, replay it and isolate Brian Urlacher!

He gets blown up by blocks, jogs upright to ball carriers and just generally lolligags like a guy who just stole $15 million from Jerry Angelo and the fans of Chicago and is going to retire in the offseason.

Remember this prediction, he knows he fleeced Angelo and that another year will expose him as someone who should have been cut, not paid a $15 million dollar extension. With his money in the bank, Urlacher will do the smart thing for himself and quit the game!

I told you so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lovie the Loser coached this Team to fall flat on their faces against an average opponent. Lovie is so stupid and such a bad coach he can't even explain what went wrong. He thinks the Bears are "Close"! Close to what, 0-16? That's what Lovie is shooting for next year. Let's see Lions 0-16, their Coach Rod Marinelli, is a "Tampa 2" advocate, Tampa Bay finishes the season 1-4 to miss the play-offs, their Defense? "Tampa 2"!! The Bears give up 455 yards and lose the most important game of the year. Their Defense? "Tampa 2". Anyone notice a pattern here? Look at the Top Defensive Teams in the league. Giants. Steelers, Raven, Titans, etc. Are any of them Tampa 2 Teams? NO,NO and NO!!! Then why the f__k do the Bears have a coach who loves the Tampa 2 and insists it's a great scheme? Lovie is not only a terrible Head Coach he sucked as a defensive coordinator.

As I have been saying for over a year this Team is dead as long as Lovie the Loser remains their coach. Eeven after today's disaster, Lovie, who's IQ must be less than 20 insists that they are close.

Until you fans rise up and demand Lovie, Angelo and the rest of the staff be fired this kind of performance is what you'll get. The Bears are so bad and so uninteresting they don't even rate 30 second of highlights on the NFL network. I'm begging you loyal fans to unite in this effort to fire Lovie and crew. If not Detroit Lionville here we come. Tune back in 2010. Don't waste your time in 2009' it will just be a replay of 2008.
Oh well it will give us time to look for a new Team to suport. Like maybe the 49ers. They just hired the man who should be our coach!!!!!!!! Excuse me while I go vomit and try to purge the thoughts of Lovie and his ineptitude out of my system!!!

All they had to do was win and they were in,but instead they found a way to lose the game.I've said for the past several weeks that the Bears were not a playoff caliber team.They've lost some games that they should have won and been lucky to win some others.No consistancy all season.And who's to blame?Unlike others I'm not gonna put All the blame on the players but instead on the coaches and their schemes(offense and defense).Lovie has to be dillusional if he thinks there's nothing wrong with the team and they're headed in the right direction...Please! I agree that Bob Babich has got to go.His so called defensive scheme not only looks inept on the field,but is frustrating the players as well.You can hear it when some of the defensive players are interviewed.They all say that there has to be a change, not only in the way they play but also in their attitude as a defensive unit.My ideal pick for defensive coordinator would have been Mike Singletary. Not only does he understand what Bear Defense is all about, having played on the 85-86 Bear championship team,but he also would have instilled that same type of agressive attitude in his players as well.I say "would have" because I just heard he was given a 5 year contract to coach the SF 49ers...Too bad.
The Bears first concern in the draft should be wide receiver and there should be some decent ones available when they pick. And if they could get a quarterback like Tebow from Florida to groom behind Orton for a year or two just in case...maybe I'm just dreaming.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Albert Einstein

Somehow, this somewhat famous quotation from one of the smartest humans to grace this planet captures the essence of the Jerry Angelo/Lovie Smith regime to me. Moreover, their collectively stubborn makeup will likely continue the insanity until they are removed or remove themselves from their positions as lords of our team, the Chicago Bears. They stick to their guns time and time again no matter the following sampling of facts:

16-16 since their SB appearance. (There are some posters on this blog who maintain that this fall to mediocrity is to be expected. Those people have truly fallen prey to the continuing lackluster ways of this franchise. I think you fans truly are enablers.)

Four former wideouts starting and doing well for decent teams has to say something bad about their former employer.

The fan who listed just nine players that a savvy coach would likely build around seems about right to me. If most of us accept that as about right, isn't that a sad statement? (IF, by the way, you disagree because there's considerably more talent, then you're building a case for bad coaching.)

Losing as many games as they did this year in the manner they did which caused missing the playoffs should, with a gutsy heircharchy, call for heads to roll.

The incredible eons-long "search" for a QB that can serve as a cornerstone for the franchise continues even in an era when it is more paramount than ever.

These are just a sampling. Keep doing what you're doing and we'll see the same results. Keep saying things like "we're close" and we'll continue to see the same results. Insanity!

Go Blackhawks--a team that was stuck in a state of insanity, and has risen from the ashes. You know what else is great about that hockey team? They'll be there for the next decade. They won't slip into mediocrity after a successful season.

As long as the current owners of DA BEARS are still owners? And unfortunately we all know who that is. They will never win anything more than what the talent allows and that is average at best and sometimes a tease of a playoff run and lose in first round. They wont get talent anywhere on the team where it counts especially QB and coaching all the way around... Running up the middle 2 outta 3 plays worked when Ditka played not in 2008! There is no reason to think things will be different in 2009. They wont spend or draft right. Most of all Smith and staff must go before the organization wastes the defense that needs to win now in the next 2 years. We have a good RB and TE's and thats it on offense. Many holes on defense that can be fixed. Time is running out for many on the BEARS. Hopefully on Smith and staff soon.. Next week please... Please

None of u are going to stop watching the Bears because of anything that happened today or this season. The same folks talking tough about not following the Bears will be either rooting for them from preseason or jumping on their bandwagon if they start winning. Fans are a bunch of wind bags who love to talk tough & then whine about everyone under-achieving. All those teams someone mentioned who were playoff contenders had a great QB to work with. If u think that Turner is bad because Orton is QB U are wrong. Orton is bad period. Urlacher is the leader on D but he's a shell of this prior self. I didn't see one dropped pass this game. I saw our much heralded TE get passes snatched away from him like he was a rag doll. He's weak and it aint because of one single coach. His blocking is worse than anything I've seen. Even Berrian put up a better effort. Our DB aren't good unless they have a leader pointing them in the right direction. Mike Brown is the obvious leader & whatever is left is in over their head without him. so what he gets hurt. If you don't have better you are better off keeping him. Manning isn't very smart and he isn't a starting safety. He's a nickle-back pressed into service as a starter. the lines on both side are old and that just won't work. Coaching can't make old player into young players. Forte was hurt more than anyone wants to admit. maybe its easier to run straight ahead than to break it outside. His one play outside wasn't very good. But Orton is the weakest link. All plays go thru him & it was him this game staring down WRs and overthrowing them when they were open. Being a bad QB on this team is what he is. And fans are so adjusted to bad that his bad isn't considered bad. Just admit that he's 3rd string good. I am not going to say that Lovie is bad enough to be fired any more than Angelo is worth firing because his personnel is laying goose eggs. Cowher wouldn't do much better with these guys & he would never get the coordinators he would want to come here.

Keith I'm sure Moose feels vindicated and you know Jake Delhomme is not exactly a perenial pro bowl QB but it does help having a running mate like Steve Smith at the other WR position and a front line that gives you more than a second and a half to throw.

AC loyalty through losing seasons or seasons falling short of making the post season when there are signs of at least trying to improve is one thing but hearing the same BS cliche's from Lovie game after game and not seeing any attempt at making adjustments and when bubba's dog knows what the next play is going to be it's time for a change. So if the Bears organization won't make a change I will and it won't cost me any alimony or child support! LMAO

Roman, I hate to say it, but some of these guys know absolutely nothing about what they are talking about. Some are quoting comments that they heard someone else say. Or just running off at the mouth. Most of these very same bloggers didn't even give this team a chance at the beginning of the season. Most didn't give them more than 5 wins this season. But now some are upset because they didn't make the playoffs. Sounds hypocritical to me. Yes, this team has problems. I agree whole-heartedly. But lets place the blame where it really belongs. Big money was paid for underachieving players. That is the bottom line.

Hester becoming a WR has no bearings on him as a returner. I'm sick of people making that comment. Hester's problem with being a returner is all about Hester. It's so obvious. In his first two years, he'd catch the ball and just run. Plan and simple. And that is the exact same thing that Daniel Manning is doing, just running. Now, Hester is too concerned with trying to make magic happen, instead of just running. That, and that alone is the whole problem. So, we received absolutely no help from him on any returns this year. That hurt our team. As far as him being a deep threat receiver, that failed. The majority of the balls thrown deep to him were grossly overthrown or underthrown. And even a couple were dropped. He can be a deep threat receiver, but he need a QB that can get him the ball and another Receiver to take some coverage away from him. No. 2 receiver at best.

Everyone is yapping about the defense and the scheme. When in reality the scheme isn't the problem. Urlacher moaned about more money all offseason, but did little in the season to deserve it. I've said this before, he shows no fight to get off of blocks. On runs up the middle, he gets pushed completely out of the way. Even when blocked, a good MLB will at least hold up the blocker so that the runner has to go around. Urlacher gets pushed completely out of the way. That's a problem. Another issue, Manning go beat on that long play to Johnson because he bit on the run fake. That has absolutely nothing to do with the scheme. If he had been where he was supposed to be that play doesn't happen. And Yes, Johnson made catches on this defense. That's what he do, even against great defenses. And that is why he's one of the best receivers in the league. But I do believe more could've been done to help prevent some of those catches. For example, a better pass rush. NO matter what type of scheme you are running, be it zone or man, nothing is effective if the QB has all day to throw. And that is just a reality of football. There is just too much field to cover and eventually a good receiver will get open. Even when we blitz, we get no pressure, especially blitzes up the middle involving Urlacher. So some can yell scheme and coaches all they want, but until we can generate a pass rush with our front four, and find a MLB that shows a desire to play, then any scheme and any coach will fail. That's the truth. Tillman is hailed as our most physical and best cover corner. But I actually see him suited nicely as our new Free Safety. I believe that would help our team out tremendously.

Offensivly, we need a better run blocking line. We call ourselves a running team, yet we struggle to get one yard at times. And we must be the only team in the league that refuses to use our star RB on goalline situations. I've seen so many other plays to less suited players. Just give the ball to Forte on all four down if we have to. One of those times he will punch it in. Which leads me to another issue. Playcalling and maybe even play design. Turner's playcalling and plays in general does not generate enough points to compete in this league. Every single year, we are in the bottom half statistically. We don't do anything well on offense. We can't even run a simple screen. That's bad. I really propose that if Turner isn't fired, then an assistant or co-coordinator should be brought in to open up our offense and get away from the predictability of Turner's present offense. This is a must! The reason I say bring in an assistant is because changing an offensive is a tough thing to do. Terminology is different. So to avoid that, just have someone come in and show Turner how to open up his offense more.

Many people are calling for Lovie's head. He's the head coach and ultimately everything that happens on this team falls on him. I understand that. And to some degree, I agree with it. But I don't want to fire Lovie just yet. He is forced to play the players on the roster. And if our GM doesn't outfit this team with quality players then what can you do? There is no one on the roster that can generate a pass rush. So what's he to do. There is no better QB on the roster. So what's he to do. So this can go back and forth. I will say this though, Lovie is a defensive minded coach, so if his defense isn't working then what good is he for this team? Lovie is the coach bottom line! So if he feels that Babich is making the wrong play calls at the wrong time, then he should step in and takeover. If this is not happening, then this is a problem. Lovie is not an offensive guy, so I don't blame him for the offense. But I do blame him if he doesn't bring in someone to make the offense more potent. And that is how I see things. Go Bears (next season)

Worst scenario possible...they go 9-7 and we have to hear that they're "close" for 6 months.
Get ready for an all-time press conference from Lovie. Hopefully someone will tell Mulligan to put away his foam rubber #1 finger.

This team will be "closer" to the Lions next year than a playoff team.

Here's my gameplan for next season. Hire Rod Marinelli as defensive coordinator. Move Babich back to linebacker coach. Histoty proves that Rod can call a defense and Babich did better coaching the LB's.

If Brown retires, hire him as some form of DB coach. And have him work exclusively with Peanut Tillman as he makes his transition to FS. Graham will continue to improve as a Corner and he can play alongside of Vasher, if he's still around. But we still have Mcbride and Bowman. Leave Manning at Nickel.

Make a positive push for Boldin. If we can't lure him in then draft the best receiver possible with the first pick. Unless a Good QB is available with that pick.

Re-sign Kevin Jones and start using him in some form of two back set on our offense. Potent!

Acquire a Pass rushing DE.

Insert Chris Williams at LT and re-sign St. Clair and move him to the inside. He's actually a good blocker, just a tad slow on the outside. And stay on the look out for a suitable replacement for Tait. He's pretty solid, but getting a lil long in the tooth.

Our draft priorities should look like this (depending how free agency goes)
1) WR/DE/QB/MLB
2) DE/WR
3) QB/S/OG
4-7) Team needs

If a good MLB is found, then Urlacher should be moved to the strong side.

And finally innovate our offense. We need to be able to score with the best of them in order to compete in the league.

Keith ... you're cracking me up. Are you related to Lovie, or do you just have latent sado-masochistic tendencies that we aren't aware of?

Let's see; "Bears showed the effects of losing key players like Thomas Jones, Bernard Berrian and Chris Harris."

They "lost" these players?

They didn't lose them, they threw them out. Kicked to the curb.
Your failure (or refusal) to see it notwithstanding, there is a difference here.

Let's have a look:

Berrian is going to the playoffs.
Moose is going to the playoffs.
Harris is going to the playoffs.
Ayanbadejo is going to the playoffs.
Wade is going to the playoffs.
Gage is going to the playoffs.
Rivera is going to the playoffs.

And Jones is going to the pro bowl with stats that dwarf Forte's.

Are you blind or simply in denial?
___________________________________

"Our Defense took a step back from being very good, to just good."

Last year they finished the season ranked near the bottom of the pile in every meaningful defensive category. This is your idea of "very good"?

Well, I guess that if you consider this season's performance "good" you're completely delusional, and are next in line for a position on Lovie's coaching staff.
_______________________________

"But our offense actually got better, thanks to an improvement at QB."

Really?

Last year they scored 334 points. This year they scored 319. That's an improvement?

Oh I get it ... you're using that new fangled "Lovie Math".

By your reasoning if the Bears manage to score less than 300 points next year, that will also be an improvement. (Move over Ron, and make room for South Side Keith)

Tell me Keith; what color is the sun in your world?

Dear Matt Cassell,

I hear you're a free agent. That's wonderful news! Have you considered coming to Chicago to showcase your talents? Forget New England - you'll always be considered the understudy. Here in Chicago, we could really use a savior at the quarterback position. Wouldn't you like to be that guy? You're young, can throw a laser (accurately, I might add) and I have a feeling you'd do well with the ladies here in Chi-Town. Our last 2 QBs have been Neckbeard and Bozo, so the fans would take to you immediately. Think of it this way - you'd really only have to be mediocre to be better than these guys, so it's a win-win situation all around. Coach Smith is outwardly less weird than your coach. He speaks in only cliches, so you'll catch on quick. Weather is fairly similar to Boston, so bring your heavy coat. Furthermore, we fans would LOVE you!!! Please put us on the top of your list. You're on the top of mine!!!

Sincerely,
Julie B.

Roman,
Could you imagine what everyone would be saying if da Bears finished 5-11 or 6-10 like most thought at the beginning of the season? I predicted a 9-7 season and poof, there it is. Bears fans need to learn about football before they shoot off at the mouth. Not every team is good, and not every team is bad. Da Bears fall somewhere in the middle.

Here we are again, out of the playoffs and wondering who should take the blame. Lets start at the top Jerry Angelo has drafted the Bears into an average team. Think of the wasted picks Dan Bazuin, Tank Johnson, Micheal Okwo, Leon Joe, Garret Wolfe, Mark Anderson, and let us not forget Mark Colombo who the Bears carried until he was healthy enough to become a starter for the Cowboys. That is an offensive Line and a couple of pretty good receivers right there. What about Earl Bennett, I think I saw the Bear throw a pass his way yesterday, for the first time all year. Even though Angelo told us he could be a starter last April
The lack of attention paid to the offensive line is most disturbing. Jim Finks Built Supper Bowl Teamms in Minnesota and Chicago and he always thought you build a team from the trenchs out. Jerry Angelo thinks you draft offensive linemn in the final rounds of the draft and hope they can make your team.
Then you have Lovie Smith who clams we are getting closer. Closer to what exactly? Bob Babich is not closer to being a Defensive Coordinator, Ron Turner is not closer to being able to call plays in the NFL. Lets face it the special teams coach is the only NFL ready coach on this staff. Lovie is right though the Bears are closer, closer to rebuilding than they want to addmit.

I have a suggestion for all the long suffering Bear Fans who think they will die before the Bears win another Super Bowl and are sick of the less than mediocre coaching staff and Team Management, start rooting for the 49ers! Now they have a coach with some guts and savvy! Come on Virginia, kick somebody in the right place. Your Dad would have. We need someone at the top to demand and expect some results, not just " close ". Babich and Turner are a joke and the laughing stock of the league. They have been outcoached in every game this year, even the one's we won.

well every year since i have been watching DA BEARS i always say i hope they at least go 9-7 but 9-7 doesn't guarantee a playoff berth then in 2006 the bears did the unthinkable and went all the way to the superbowl. i wish however the outcome would have been a win instead of a sloppy loss to the colts. i am happy that the record was 9-7 but the losses to tampa bay and atlanta really hurt us bad when those two games we had a w in the win column and then we would have a 11-5 season and be division champs with a first round bye.

With all due respect, there were more than a handful of teams with more talent than the Bears that didn't come close to making the playoffs. Just being in these close games with the contenders was an accomplishment; I say this because,

1) With a few breaks we could easily have been 12-4

2) With the exception of Tate, our 'O' line is not very good

3) Orton played as well, if not better, than some quality QBs, with very little to work with at WR

4) Blown coverages are part of football; it happens to EVERY team. Unfortunately ours started a freefall each time

5) Alex and Adewale are studs, the middle killed us

6) Why our cornerbacks NEVER play up is beyond me... and going

7) With the exception of the 1st Packer game, the Bears were in every game. That, my friends, is an accomplishment in itself

8) Mike Brown and Matt Forte; what if...

9) Having been a coach, referee, and umpire for 33 yrs., and played competitive football for 37 yrs., I claim to have enough knowledge to say the Bears have one of the worse coaching staffs in ALL of football, Pop Warner to Pros, PERIOD

Julie. B.
Great post!!
Funny too.
However, Matt Cassell was great in a great system. Coaching does make a difference. New England has been great for years despite the fact that they have replaced many players on Offense and Defense and Coordinators as well . Even this year when injuries hit them hard on both sides of the ball they plugged in new players and got similar results. Players that weren't superstar free agents or obtained through trades or blockbuster deals. They were retired players, role players, players who were average on other teams and a quarterback who I believe hadn't thrown an NFL pass until he started his first game this year. 11-5 is how they finished. It will take the Bears the next two seasons to win 11 games.........
What is the constantin New England? Bill Belichek.

The Bears are mediocre to awful. Who is the constant here?
Lovie Smith!!

Until you get rid of him this will be a bad Team and Franchise. It doesn't matter who or how much talent you bring in.

Get Peyton Manning, Andre Johnson, the real Adrian Peterson, DeMarcus Ware, Richard Seymour, James Harrison etc. Plug them into these schemes coached by this terrible coaching staff and you will still have a miserable defense and awful offense.

It's not all about talent. If it was then you wouldn't need a coach, all you would have to do is put the players on the field and the most talented Team wins. The Yankees, Redskins, Notre Dame, etc. are proof that having great Talent doesn't guarantee success. How about the Cowboys? They keep plugging in talented players. Are they going to the Play-offs?
The right coach builds the Team and molds them into winners. You see it at every level in every sport.
That's why this Team is dead until they get a good coach. Lovie is a bad coach with no self awareness who lives in a dream world and can only utter cliche's. (Thanks Julie B.!)

Sorry but that's reality.

Bringing Cassell here won't make a difference at all. He would just turn into a short neckbeard with small hands who sacks himself. In other words he would be Kyle Grossman or Rex Orton. Take your pick!!

SAD DAY BEING A BEAR FAN WITH AN OVERRATED IDIOT FOR A COACH!!!!

Do you really believe what Lovie said, "WE'RE CLOSE" with a 9-7 record. What in the heck is he thinking---how can you say something so lame as that!!! Besides what exactly are we close to...the 7-9 record we had last year??? That should be living proof that not only does he not know what he's doing, nor does he know how to respond to even make it seem like he knows what he is doing. His soft personality (not for coaching football) has bled over to the offense & defense that it has effected the whole organization into not having that hunger & fight to want to win.

Lovie is NOT the right person to be coaching the Bears, nor any other NFL football team. And once again, Jerry Angelo (um...which way did he go!!) locking in another bum (lovie) for several more years--which will not be fun to watch!!!

LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A MIRACLE FOR NEXT SEASON!!!

..

Funny, but the August, 2008 archives show most of the so-called "experts" picked the Bears to win 5-6 games (even the blog Jefe). I'd say the Bears had a good season. Pissed me off almost every game, but did well. Now, if history holds true to form, we should be lucky to win 6 games next year with the same squad. Flip flops are the norm.

Unless we chop a few heads.

You cannot lose to a 7 win, 8 loss team in that situation and call it anything but a failure of a season.
Regardless of whatever the experts predicted the final Bear record to be, be it 5 and 11, or 7 and 9... that does not matter.
The fact is that the league, as it always does, sinks to its own level over the course of 17 weeks and the Bears entered the final game needing to win on the road and failed to.
Never expect any ability for this coaching staff to manufacture a greater result with the talent they possess than an average result. In other words, the coaching staff is mediocre to poor at best. They do not maximize the talent of their players through wise decision making prior and during gameday.
So, don't expect the Bears to be a serious SuperBowl contender any time soon. And hell yes, I remember 2006 - and I'll always remember it as the year a once in a lifetime special teams unit and a top three defense team lost the Super Bowl due to a sub-par offense. The stars lined up perfectly in 2006 and it still didn't merit the SuperBowl victory.
And with this coaching staff and front office, I don't see the stars aren't lining up for a few light years, that's for sure.

My wife and I would rather have a root canal than watch these bozos, watching the Texans aniliate the Beloved yesterday made me sick to my stomach. Tbe Bears organization needs to find ex-bear greats to run the team because only they are true Bears and have passion for the Bears. Angelo & Lovie are not Bears and never will be, they are collecting a paycheck and don't care. Look at Singletary, Riveria, why not Tom Thayer? even Tommy Waddle could do a better job than these Bozos.

I'm glad they didn't make the playoffs. That would have meant they were on track. I think at a minimum Babich has to go but I think Lovie should go to. This defense has lost it's teeth. Urlacher is like a ghost out there they don't scare anyone except Bear fans....

San Francisco has Mike Singletary... the Bears have Lovie. This has got to be a joke.

Reggie's first post was spot on. As frustrating as this season was, there was one thing which was consistent throughout. Our team was usually dominated on both sides of the LOS. God Love Kruetz but his better days are way behind him, Tait it barely serviceable anymore and while St Clair was better than expected he is not worthy of a starting LT job. Maybe we can resign him and move him to OG. Beekman needs to be replaced or tried at C and Garza is average at best.

The other side is paid better, but Harris was too inconsistent and may always be affected by those knees. If not his knees, then one has to question his mental makeup as he is very aware of what is being read/written at all times. Ogun is OK as a situational rusher but we really would be better off moving Brown to LDE and getting a stud RDE so the QB actually had to .. oh I don't know move in the pocket. IF you can get the trenches improved, then you should see how that improves other positions as well. The suggestion of Tillman to FS makes a lot of sense but you better get a rebound from Vasher or draft someone who can step in. I am still trying to figure out what it was that Roach did so well to bump Hillenmeyer.

Lastly, please go after Boldin. I believe he will leave AZ when they are done and he has so much heart and toughness. But don't stop there, draft another WR, and that way he can compete with Bennett to improve our options. IF Hester is used right, and he is really a #2 we could see immediate results, especially if we have legitimate 3rd & 4th receivers to threaten the other team.

Lastly, I do not care if Babich stays but he cannot stay as DC. IF he will take the demotion to LB coach that is fine.

THE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL!!!

The picture for this blog ssys it all - Tillman getting beat (once again) to a faster, stronger receiver. He is without a doubt the MOST OVERRATED cornerback in the NFL. Game after game you see him running to catch up to a receiver on a long pass play. I would say his total ineptitude as a corner (along with Nate Vasher) is the reason why the Bears could not make the playoffs. Not to mention his bonehead penalty against Tampa Bay that cost the Bears that game. The sad part is that he doesn't have a clue! His comment in the Sun-Times today, "Something has to change. I don't know what it is, but something will change. Something has to." YEAH - how about YOU Tillman!!! Bye-Bye to your overpriced contract. And take your buddy Vasher with you on the way out.

Under the heading: "Too Much Time On His Hands" ...

I took off this week. I was tired of fighting my way to and from work, and didn't want to battle the elements another day this year. So it's killing me to look out the window at this relatively balmy weather, knowing that I blew a week's pay for nothing.

Anywho; there's no one in the upper eschelons of Bears management that has to worry about losing any money. They're all locked in.

We can bi+ch and moan all we want, write letters to the editor, and refuse to buy their team merchandise. Doesn't matter. These guys are laughing at us, and I heard a bit of that laughter today in the voice of Lovie Smith during his "end of the season" press conference.

This arrogant excuse for a head coach didn't answer a single tough question. All we got were a bunch of canned responses and scripted BS. His press conference was a slap in the face, and an insult to any intelligent fan.

But here's the deal: Lovie not only thinks we're all stupid, he really doesn't care WHAT we think.

He's set for the rest of his life, and as far as he's concerned, the fans can shove it.

seldom do i write comments but if lovie smith is still here next year, along with babich, the bears will still be looking for a few pieces. the passion and the intensity are just gone. i am so tired of watching opponent receivers catching balls uncontested with five bears trying to tackle someone downfield. what ever happened to a pressure defense. at least if you lose, you did it with some passion. we're getting the same losing results anyway. Kyle Orton, really is he any better than rex grossmena. if kyle is the qb of the future, there is still missing pieces. one pass completed over 30 yards all season and you tout him as the qb of the future. can i have whatever they are smoking please.

Last season the Browns finished 10-6. This year they had all 3 of their QBs knocked out of service. Did they use the injury bug as an excuse?
No. They fired their G.M. and Head Coach and are now trying to lure Bill Cowher to take over. It looks like they will get him. If Cowher is willing to take the Cleveland job then it is safe to say that the Bears could have landed him for their Head Coach.

2 seasons ago the Jets went to the playoffs. This year they went 9-7 but missed the playoffs with a lose in the last game of the season. (Sound familiar Bears fans?)
Did they pat themselves on the back and talk about "progress" and say “We are close"? No. They fired the Head Coach.

Do you believe that the Saints, Cowboys, Bucs or Broncos are feeling great about their 2008 season like Lovie is right now?
Hell no!

This is the difference between the Bears and the other teams in the NFL.
They do not view a playoff appearance two years ago and a 9-7 season now as a great accomplishment. They are moving forward in trying to fix their shortcomings and improve their team.
The Bears on the other hand are just sitting around and hoping that the same failed plan will work if given yet another year to take root.

Villy I am cracking up of course. Lovie is good at what he does because he can add. WINS, Beating Green Bay, and going to the SB are the only numbers that matter to him, and he is absolutely correct in my book. I predicted the Bears would win 10 games this year. Yeah my math is very Lovie-like in that fashion, but where um from we call that "accurate". Here is something else you can fact-check in your sports stats machine - go back and find out how many yards and records New England put together in their perfect season vs. the Giants. Then tell me how many drops of champagne the giants sprayed all over each other during the SB celebration.

If you cannot see that the BEARS took a step forward - in spite of "throwing out" some great players, MANY that you guys were in favor of the Bears setting free, with the exception of Ayanbadejo. Look it up if you think um lying. Lot of positives to hang our hats on. We went forward. No we didn't win it all or make the playoffs as we all wish, but we just didn't lay down. Bears were less than a touchdown from winning almost every game they lost this year. This is Orton's first full season, and its been a good one. I think the Bears need to keep him and work on HANEY as the back up unless a PROVEN QB is out there.

Jewels's letter is funny, but would you leave New England and Randy Moss to come throw to Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd? OK. They are probably going to win the Superbowl this year. Orton needs a bone-fide target like #80 on the Texans - who GANGSTERED Peanut in the end zone like a bully on the playground. But even more than that he needs someone else in the booth to call a game that compliments his and the team's strengths. YOU KNOW your O-line is bad, why keep jamming the ball up the middle? YOU KNOW you don't really have a deep route guy, why keep throwing it? Go deep on PLAY action. Bears are as predictable as a traffic light.

K-LSS come on... comparing the Bears to the Patriots in any way is a joke.
Let me know when the Bears have the kind of success that New England has had over the last 10 seasons.
9 straight seasons going to the playoffs and a 11-5 record this season after losing Tom Brady.
4 trips to the Super Bowl winning 3 of them since 2001 plus another trip to the AFC championship game in 2006 which they lost by 4 points.

Sorry but the Bears winning one title in the last 45 years (against New England by the way) is not even close to being in the Patriots league.
Which team would you pick to go to the playoffs in 2009 and have a real shot at winning a championship?
The Bears or the Patriots?

Remember what it was like having the Bulls being a great team?
That is what it has been like for the Patriots fans.

I told ya so...Jerry and the yes men got what they deserved...and they'll never win anything..

Also, at the beginning of the season...I stated I became a little bit of a Dolphin fan the day I heard Sporano say the reason he was hired was mostly because he wasn't a YES MAN..

I told ya so...

Fire Jerry..Fire Lovie..Fire Babich...give Joe a Chubby..

the "Charter Franchise" of the NFL is a Joke...how anyone can be a "fan" is beyond me..

It is time for the Bears to stop treating the WR position as a necessary evil and make a real commitment to the offense.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

I want to see not one but two of these players in a Bears uniform next season. Not a watered down version of a WR taken in the 4th round so he can sit for a year and then get cut in the preseason like Earl Bennett.
I mean real play makers and not just one of them either.
Trade up, draft nothing but WRs if you have to... what ever it takes but get some big time players to catch the ball and open up the offense. Someone that the other team will actually have to prepare for.. to be worried about even.
Not arena league rejects and washed up players from the past.

And no more if this "I am afraid of the expectations" crap from Jerry and trading down out of the first round to take two stiffs for the price of one good player.
To hell with having 10 picks in the draft and cutting 8 of them within a year.
Yes they need other positions addressed but no other spot on this team is in need of a complete overhaul as much as the WRs.

Believe it or not but this would actually help the defense by keeping them off the field by eliminating the Bears usual 3 and outs.

Keith:

The color of the sun in "your world" must be pink and purple polks dots.

Am I correct?

That would be the only explaination for your ability to look at the broken glass that is the Bears organization, and proclaim that the shattered shards on the floor are somehow half full.

Lovie loves you!

Villy - The Color of the sun is my world is Blue, Orange and White! I am down for the team. Lovie is not perfect, but I remember Jaron and Wanstet. Lovie has been the third best coach we have EVER had in Bears History. Lovie understands the real numbers and that is whats important. WINS. He also has a knack for inspiring the Bears to wins in big games. A coach can give you a strategy and a game plan, but you have to do the rest. But Lovie has impressed me by knowing which games are the BIG ones and getting victories. He has a clue, and the demeaner.

P - I did not compare the BEARS to the Patriots. I used the Patriots to make the point that even one of the most explosive teams in football history can get thumped by a team that knows how to circle the wagons and get it done. The team the Bears need to resemble is the GIANTS and not the Patriots. The Patriots did everything but WIN the game that counted. Bears were there and did the same exact thing. But the Bears lost because of their QB. He had the talent, but could not summon it when needed the most. I knew from that day forward we needed to make a change at QB. Stats are sexy, but they can never measure HEART.

I was saving my posts on the Bears until someone like Darryl M was going to elude the discussion to the dreaded “R” word again regarding whether to keep or fire Lovie Smith. However, Keith, I have to finally chime in here based on your last post.

Keith, you basically contradicted yourself. If what you truly believe are that stats are sexy but never measure heart, then what do you call last Sunday’s Bears game against a Texans team that had basically nothing to play for? The team lacked heart in that game. We all saw it. Sure, we made a nice effort on a miracle comeback in the end of the game (and notice how all of these so-called comebacks by Orton and the Bears are usually only against the bad teams!), but the team dug itself in a hole because they lacked heart and urgency to win that game. A loss is a loss. Plus, if you support Lovie so much because you said that he understands numbers and wins, then what do you call all that? Those are STATS, Keith. STATS. And Lovie inspires the Bears to win big games? C’mon Keith, most of the games that the Bears won this season were against NON-PLAYOFF teams with losing records or against teams that they should have beaten! And don’t even bring up the Colts game in the first game of the regular season because Manning was recovering from an injury, the Colts team had a depleted O-Line and the Bears basically game planned the entire 1 month preseason for that 1 game. Other than that win, the only real quality Bears win this entire season was against the Saints, maybe the Eagles but they were without Brian Westbrook. So for all I’m concerned, this season for the Bears was even worse than last year when the team was bitten by the injury bug from too many players.

Forget about Lovie’s lack of demeanor or personality. If he wants to act like a snob to the media and Bears fans, personally, I could care less, but as head coach and one of the supposed leaders of the team, he has a RESPONSIBILITY to act like a professional and endorse the team in a positive way, not negative. Look, I’ve been pointing out Lovie’s flaws as a head coach in the blogs for more than 3 years now, even during the 2006 Super Bowl season. Most of what I’ve been reading in this blog topic are nothing new to me and pretty much nothing that I haven’t already mentioned before so I’m not going to repeat it again. My intention was not to type up an “I told you so” session here. For the select few of you who want to continue the love and support of Lovie, no problem, I’m not looking to convert you. It’s obvious that guys like Keith or the Darryl M’s of the blogs will continue to argue for Lovie until he finally leaves the Bears, but bottom line, the fact of the matter is that this is now TWO YEARS in a row that the team has failed to make the playoffs coming off of a Super Bowl appearance. Forget about expectations in preseason or whatever. If some of you want to argue about Lovie’s overall winning record as Bears coach, then I’ll argue back that the team has failed to reach the playoffs for 2 years in a row now and appears to be heading downward, not closer as Lovie claims in his press conferences. You see, that’s the main issue… Lovie apparently doesn’t think there is a problem with the team! It’s the same old philosophy… in order to fix something, you have to first admit that there is a problem!

And yes, it’s not all Lovie and there is plenty of blame to go around. I understand it all starts at the top, but until McCaskeys sell the team, then it’s all moot point because most of us all know darn well that any owner of a business can do whatever the heck they want with their “assets”. However, if the consumers, like ourselves, don’t complain about it, then nothing will get done. Yeah, I blame Jerry Angelo too and as a fan, I suggest he get fired also, but he’s a decision-making personnel guy. He’s not going to fire himself and from what I understand, he’s under contract with the Bears until 2013. Lovie is also under contract for 2 or 3 more years, but he can be fired. It’s just a matter if the Bears want to eat that contract and then go out and pay more for a better coach. Will it happen? Probably not, but you get enough negative publicity in a big market city like Chicago, then eventually anything can happen. From there, it’s down to the position/asst. coaches. Ron Turner may not be a fan favorite (and don't think I am one of those fans), but if the majority of fans like Kyle Orton so much, then he fits Turner’s system like a glove as a master of the dink and dunk pass of 5 to 20 yards. If Babich is retained as def. coordinator, then this team is really hopeless. As for the rest of the position coaches, outside of Dave Toub, there needs to be plenty of upgrades in the remaining coaching staff as well. I’ll leave it at that.

Onto the Bulls and Blackhawks now… go teams!!

President Bush, Rod Blagojevich, Jerry Angelo, and Lovie Smith?

Men whose past actions make anything they say senseless and not taken seriously.

Arrogance never smelled so bad!

Edgar and Anthony:

I read your last two posts, and I tend to agree with pretty much everything you said.

I don't dislike Lovie because of his personality, or lack thereof. I dislike him because he's a loser; and an obstinate, arrogant, obtuse loser, at that. Until the day that he stands at the podium and puts puts the blame for this sorry a$$ defense squarely on his shoulders, I will never respect the man.

If he would just stand up there and say, "I screwed up; I should have never gotten rid of Rivera." his stock in this town would go through the roof. What we hate is his mealy mouth answers, and his spineless, heartless demeanor.

The problem is that he's got a few more years left on his contract, and he isn't going anywhere else with McCaskey money in his pocket. That isn't the way these tight-wads do business.

Do you know why Lovie and Angelo were talking up Marineli so much?

It's because even if Lovie had gone 0/16 this year himself, he would still have been the head coach of the Bears in '09.

The only reason Rod got canned is because he was at the tail end of his contract.

The point is ... This has nothing to do with winning, losing, or making the playoffs. It's ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS!

I would take that Immaculate Bears Superbowl Season over the last 10 years of Patriots dominance, not only 100 times out of a 100, but twice on Sundays!

The Pats may have had a good dynasty these last couple years, but they were never GREAT. Like the 85 Bears ARE!

Anthony, someday, my great grandkids are going to show your great great grandkids their history books and go.....NANANANANANA I told you so.

also, dont remember Angelo ever liberating over 90Million people from Tyrannical Despotism

Edgar,

It's too bad that you haven't been posting very much. I find you very engaging. I think your writing is thoughtful, lucid, judicious, insightful, respectful and persuasive. I never feel the least bit burdened by reading it no matter its length.

Fans really do have a say in the matter of what kind of team we want if we collectively and vociferously offer our opinions. It's a shame that we root for a team consumed with senseless contracts as well as an historical lack of excessive financial resources on the part of ownership. These facts have forced us to be extraordinarily persuasive in order to, hopefully, get something done.

It's hockey time...thank God!

Sorry Keith but the Bears don't resemble the Giants either.

PitViper1... 1985! Whooooo!
I don't need to ever see another Bears championship in my life time after that!
Whooooooo!
23 years and counting but at least we have that ONE Super Bowl right?
Whoooooo!

Give me a break.

Edgar, the most dangerous team in sports is the one who has nothing to play for. As for heart and motivation, that's the coaches and players, and neither came through. What a disappointment.

Anthony, most definitely the team that has nothing play for can be dangerous, especially when playing in front of their home crowd. I certainly agree, but hands down, the Bears still should have won that game if they really cared at all about making the playoffs and giving themselves a chance to compete for the title. That sense of urgency and motivation, if any, should be able to overcome that intangible of "nothing to lose" mentality. Good teams overcome pressure. The Bears were obviously not a good team. Besides, I was merely trying to point out to Keith early on in that post that his initial comments were contradicting.

Edgar is quite truculent...lol! But Edgar my friend, the Bears fought to the death. Yes they died on the field, but they fought with all they had and left no bullets in the gun. Writing was on the wall weeks ago, but the Bears took the battle to the gate. They were done since the loss to Green Bay, and all but dead after Minnesota, but they somehow managed to survive until the last game of the season. You have to credit that. They lost, but went down swinging and I will take that anytime. Ask Oscar Dela-Meyer about that.

Even I had written them off, but the fat lady did not sing until the 4th quarter of their last game. That effort counts for a lot with me. There were some games that the Bears did not win this year, but that other team escaped with their lives, and knew they had been in a scrap! That's something you can build from. Thats grit and fight, and some good Bears football IMHO.

Face it, most fans had low expectations from last year because of the players that got away, and we certainly didn't pick up a whole lot of difference makers, but the Bears outperformed almost 90% of the predictions for them. Bears were a mediocre team flirting with becoming a bad one and falling to the bottom of the conference. And with the loss of Devin Hester - the real reason most even bothered to tune in - who would have thunk 9 games??? Lovie and the Team did, and so did I.

Some folks appreciated all the records the Patriots broke and the heartbreaking loss. Other folks appreciated the Giants and their never-say-die storm to the championship. It all depends on who you are and how you see things. Some like the 08 Cubs and some like the 08 Sox.

I got a question. Which coach came out & said that his team was a group of utter failures? Which coach with a losing team said that he expected to get worse next year? Even coaches who got fired were not telling the media that they were a bad team. Why is it that Lovie says something in basically a positive way & people say he's delusional? what was he supposed to say? Was he suppose to get "defeatist" material from some of you to tell it like it is? I can't remember one time where Ditka sold any player or coordinator out. Did Ditka say in 86 that he wished that Buddy was still around. But Lovie is supposed to bring up Rivera as the error of his ways. How does that sound? A coach is not supposed to hang his higher-ups out to dry. He's not supposed to use the media to convey anything to his lockerroom or to his bosses. A lot of you guys hold Lovie up to this higher standard & suggest he does this unnecessary stuff. You say that Halas wouldn't stand for this & that but Halas was alive when he had some of the worse coaches & players right here with this team. He was owner & coach when charter teams like the Vikings beat them in their first games out the box. He hired special team's coach who had never head up a team in no level of play. He took a chance because he had nothing to lose to begin with. Now we're suppose to think of this team as a great organization that a snooty coach is now leading. You act like our history is that of an always won the important game & always had the best players. Is it Lovie's fault that Sid Luckman hold so many QB records when he's been around for 5 years & Sid has been gone for Decades? Jimmy Mac is this great Icon of a QB & he hold not one single record of the Bears QB. Where is the disgrace at that? But great coaches like Cowher should want to drop whatever common sense he has & want to coach for this great & storied organization. Do you guys know how the rest of the league view this team? This head coach job isn't some dream job that is with gauranteed success.

Why is it that you can say that we have holes on both sides of the ball but blame the holes on coaching. Match every player up against every player on other teams and ask yourself where we are as a team. Our players are not head & shoulders better than other players so collectively how are we such a great team? Our best players rank where against players on other teams? We don't have a player in any position that would rank even the top ten against players in the same position. When we had a MLB who was actually top 5 where did we rank? Now that he's the 3rd or 4th leading tackler on his team where do we rank? Yeah, on 2nd thought it has to be coaching.

And I love how you guys pat each other on the back when you AGREE with each other. How do you know if someone is persuasive if he already thought EXACTLY like you did. Isn't that what they call preaching to the choir? That's why guys like me are out here. I'm not going to recite something that I heard another person say as if I spoke it. I'm going to think for myself and rationalize for myself and if I actually provoke real conversation then I've done my job as a person. We're not supposed to close our minds because our emotions are dictating us to do so. We're supposed to think for ourselves and add to a conversation. The last thing we need to do is adopt a flopper's mentality where we come out and say one thing and realize what we said earlier was too far over the top. Saying you're gonna stop being a fan and then complain a few games later shows a flopper. If you hate them quit already. No one made you a fan of any team and if there is a gun to your head then that's another matter all together. But I think it is free will that makes you a fan. You are free to do whatever you want as a fan.

Yes, exactly WRD. Free will to WRITE whatever we want as a fan (within the guidelines permitted to us by the blog owner of course). So if I want to respond to your posts while you preach to us how the normal fan should act or write in the blogs, then that's why I'm here also. WRD, the rebel writer-man without a cause... Very good, now you're finally getting it. No one's asking you to stop either, preacher.

Oh no,....

Wordsworth vs. Othello Rd.2

Ding Ding Ding....

Tell you what Edgar; why don't you not mention my name in future entries and I won't have to make it feel so "personal" to you. I've always made it a habit not the mention people by name at all and to just say what is on my mind. If you feel that you resemble anyone in my entry just make a vailed reference to me and I promise I will let it go. If I am saying that fans are a broken record or a parrot and someone responds either they want that cracker or should switch to a format that won't allow repeatings. But if you respond then you are telling on yourself. If I said stupid get a life and you tell me you have one then you are calling yourself stupid. Fight your own battles. All I ever ask is that people come up with better material. Repeating that same stuff over and over isn't being a fan it's being a tool. If you want to say Fire Babich please mention who could be a replacement other than the fact that Rivera was fired and was supposed to be better. But if you're not gonna mention that it was Rivera's D that the lost the SuperBowl and a playoff game in 2005 against Carolina and that they are not perfect and never was then that's another thing. Get mad at him for not concentrating on bettering YOUR team like he did. Why talk about this team not concentrating and give a pass to an ex-coach for doing the same thing to you. Why not mention how he was pursuing head coaching jobs during those times where this D should've been his priority and didn't get hired as anything but a Inside LB coach for a team he didn't impress with his interview for head coach. If a teacher applied for a job at a school and can only get a job as the janitor I would feel that there isn't any reason to keep bringing him up unless of course he was a family member or a person from the past I won't let go. And Rivera is a figment of your 85 imagination. Fans talking about today shouldn't feel compelled to endure talk of the past. Unless I mention a fan by name no one should bother bringing me up. It just makes me right.

I miss myself!!!!